Combined harvesting and loading machine



April 30, 1940. N l' F.' FERlN 2,199,257

COMBINED HARVESTING AND LOADING MACHINE l Filed Dec. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. PERRIN -COMBINED HARVESTING AND LOADING MCHINE April 3o, 1940,

4 sheets-'sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 193s fxm. vwmf m5.

April 30, 1940. F. FERRIN V I COMBINED HARVESTING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Deo. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 30, 1940. F. FERRIN COMBINEDIHARVESTING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sl'xee'fI 4 mensa Apr. so, i940 UNITED STATES PATENT -oFF-TCE 2.199.251/ comme mves'rmd AND LOADING moms Frank Ferrin, Minneapolis, Minn. Application December 21, 193s, Sernin. 247,763 7 claims. (ci. 2li-sa) My present invention lhas for its object to prol vide a combined harvester and loader designed as an attachment forV an automotivetruck and with driving connections for operating the movable parts thereof from the engine of said truck. While this machine is intended for generaluse on a farm as a laborA saving machine in cutting and loading materials, it is especially intended for use in cutting corn stalks in the field, directing the stalks as they are cut, onto an elevator, Vin cutting said stalks. into shortpieces by an ensilage cutter during the upward travel on said elevator and which elevator discharges the cut pieces from theI ensilage cutter into thev dump body of the truck. When the body of the truck is filled with thecut corn. stalks, the same is driven to a silo where the s ame is dumped and stored therein.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices, hereinafter described and dened in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. e Referring to the drawings: l Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the invention mounted on an automotive truck with some parts shown by means of broken lines; l

Fig. 2 is a plan IView o! the invention removed from the truck:l

Fig. 3 is a planview of the invention as shown. in Fig. 1., some parts being removed, other parts being broken away, and still other parts being shown by means of broken lines;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is afragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale, pg ly in section and partly in elevation showing the connections between the truck and the invention;

Fig. 6 is a detail view with some parts sectionedon the line 6 5 of Fig. 5: Fig. 7 is an elevation of the coupling as shown in Fig. 5 except that the members thereof are separated, vone `of-said members being shown in a dierent position by means of broken lines;

n and f Fig. 8. is a fragmentary detail view with some parts sectioned on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

The invention is shown as an attachment to an vautomotive truck `and is mounted thereon and of the parts thereof, illustrated, it is important w-'to note; the longitudinal frame members 9, the

front and rear wheels III and llrespectively, the cab I2,` the dumping body I3. the transverse shaft I4, driven from the engine of the truck, driving connections I5 from said shaft to the rear wheels II and the 'front bumper IGmounted 5 on, and rigidly secured to the front end portions of the frame members 9.

Referring now in detail to the invention,l the same includes a horizontal main frame I1 and an f upwardly and rearwardly inclined elevator frame 10 I8. Said main frame I1 includes a pair of rearwardly projecting side members I9 and two laterally spaced cross-tie members 20. Caster wheels 2I are secured-to the rear end portions of the frame side members I9 and support the same. 15 The front end portion of the truck extends between the frame side members I9 with its bumper directly engaging the rear` cross-tie4 member 20. Stop members 22 secured in-the corners of the main lframe I1, formed by the frame side mem- 9|)v bers I1 and the rear cross-tie member 20, engage the ends of e .bumper vI6 and hold the main frame center d relative to the truck. The rear end portions of the vstop members 22 are outwardly and rearwardly inclined as indicatedv at g5 2l, to direct the bumper I5 between said members. The front end portion of the main frame I1 is looselyA supported from the bumper I6 by a pair of forwardly projecting short tongues 24 rigidly secured to the under side of said bumper. 30 n Only one -of these tongues 24 is shown and the front end portion is curved downwardly to direct the same under the rear cross-tie member 2li during the coupling of the truck to the frame I1.

The main frame I1 is releasably coupled to the 35- truck by a pair of laterally spaced hooks 25 pivoted to a transverse rock shaft 25 mounted on the side members of the frame 9. These coupling hooks 25 .project forwardly over the bumper I6 and interlock with the rear cross-tie bar 20. The 40 front end portion of the coupling hooks 25'are. upwardly and forwardly curved so that during the coupling of the truck to the mainframe I1 said hooks upon engaging the rear cross-tie member 20 will ride over said member and then 45 drop by gravity into interlocking engagement r therewith. To release the coupling hooks 25 from the rear cross-tie member 20, there is mounted in the ycab I2 a hand lever 21 connected by a long link 28 to an upwardly projecting lug 29 50 on the rear end portion of one of said hooks. Referring again to the truck it is not thought necessary to show its engine or the driving connections therefrom except the drive shaft 30.

This shaft 30 is journaled at its rear end in a 55 2 bearing 3| one1 housing 32 carried by the shaft I4, and its front end portion 4is journaled in a bearing 33 on the rear arm of a U shaped bracket 34 mounted on a cross-tie rod 35, between thel frame members 9 and is a part of the truck structure. The shaft I4 is driven from the shaft 30 by a pair of beveled gears 36.

An ensilage cutter, an elevator, a reel and other parts associated therewith, are mounted on the elevator frame I8 and all thereof driven from the shaft 38 as will hereinafter appear.

A clutch 31 on the front end portion of the shaft 38, between the arms of the bracket 34, includes a rear member 38 mounted for axial sliding movement on said shaft but held for rotation therewith by a key 39. The frontmember 40 of the clutch 31 is telescoped onto the rear end portions of the hub of the rear member 4I of a separable coupling 42 and secured for common rotation therewith by screws 43. Said hub .of the coupling member 4| is journaled in a bearing d4 on the front arm of the bracket 34 and the front end portion of the shaft 38 is journaled in said hub. The bearing 44 which fits between the hub of the clutch member 49 and the back of the coupling' member 4| holds said clutch coupling member against vaxial movement. The other, or front member 45 of the coupling 42 is rigidly secured to the rear end of a short shaft 46 axially aligned with the shaft 30 and journaled in a pair of bearings 41 on a. brafcket bearing 48 that is rigidly secured to and between the two crosstie members 20. On the opposing faces of the coupling members 4I and 45 are cooperating driving lugs 49 and 50 respectively. The driving lugs 49, as shown, are oblong in cross-section to alford relatively wide bearing surfaces for the driving lugs 59 which are round in cross-section. The purpose of making the driving" lugs 49 wider than the driving lugs 56 is to prevent said lugs from passing each other Yduring relative movements of the truck and the main frame I1. To permit the lugs 49 to pass the lugs 5|), in case they are axially aligned during movement of the coupling member 4I to an operative position, the free end portions of said lugs are beveled, see Fig.- '1.`

'I'he movable clutch member 38 is moved to or from an operative position by a hand lever 5I mounted in the cab I2 and connected by a long link 52 to a shipper lever' 53 on the shaft 26 and having a cooperating shipper collar 54 on the hub of saidI clutch member.

A driving gear 55 on the shaft Li6 is fixed for rotation therewith between the two bearings 46.

To support the front end of the main frame I1 when uncoupled from the truck, the same is provided with a pair of pivoted legs 56. Any suitable means, not shown, may be provided for 'holding the legs 56 raised when the main frame I1 is coupled to the truck.

In actual construction of the combined harvester and loader, connections for raising the legs 56 may be provided and extended to the cab I2.

Referring now to the elevator frame |8,"the same is provided with a deck 51 and side members 58. A belt-like elevator 59 is mounted on the elevator frame I8 and comprises a pair of link belts 69 and cross slats 6I secured to said belts. The belts 80 are arranged to run over upshaft 65 iournaled in a bearing on'the lower end portions of said side members. These sprocket wheels 62 and 53 are arranged with the upper runof the elevator 59 on the upper side of the deck 51 and the return or lower run of said elevator on the under side of said deck. By reference to Fig. 1 it .will be noted that the elevator frame I8 supports the elevator 59 with its lower or receiving end close to the ground, forward of the truck and with its delivery or upper end over the truck body I3.

The shaft 65 is driven from the gear 55 by the following connections, to wit: a gear 66 meshing with said gear 55 is mounted on a short shaft 61 journaled in the bearing bracket 48 and has on its outer end a sprocket wheel 68. A sprocket chain 89 runs over the sprocket wheel 68 and a sprocket Wheel 10 on one end of a transverse shaft 1| journaled in bearings on the side menu bers of the elevator frame I8.

0n the other end of the shaft 1I is a bevel gear 12 which meshes with a bevel gear 'I3 on the intermediate portion of a long shaft 14 which extends parallel to the elevator frame I8 and is journaled in bearings on the respective sidey member of said frame. A bevel gear 15 on the upper end of the shaft 14 meshes with a bevel gear on the upper shaft 64 and completes the driving connections from the .gear 55 to the shaft'64 for moving the elevator 59 in a direction which in its upper run, moves upwardly over the deck 51 Mounted on the lower end of the elevator frame I8 is a cutting device for corn-or other materials having a serrated cutter bar I8 that, is reciprocated transversely of the elevator frame I8 by an eccentric 19 on the lower end ofthe shaft 14 and connected by a llink 89 to said cutter bar. r

A reel 8| is provided for directing com or other materials to be cut by the cutting device 11 onto the elevator 59. The shaft for the reel 8i is journaled on the outer end portions of a'pair of swingable arms 82 pivoted at-their inner ends on the hubs of bearings for a transverse shaft.I y

See Fig. 8. The bearings for the shaft 83 are on -the side members el the elevator frame liijust For raising or lowering the reel 8| and .holding the sam'e in either an operative position as shown by broken lines in Fig. 1, or in an inoperative position, as shown by full lines in said figure, I providea windlass shaft 98 mounted on the left hand side of the elevator frame I8 and a cable 89, one end portion of which is wound on said shaft. The other end of the cable 89 is attached to an upstanding bracket 90 on thecfrespective reel arms 82. Y

For rotating the windlass shaft 88 or for hold ing the same against rotation there is mounted on the outer ends of said shaft a worm gear 9| and meshing therewith is a worm 92. This worml 9| is mounted on a crank shaft 93 journaled inA bearings on the respective side of theielevator crank 94 that may inthe cab I2.

During the upward travel of the cut corn stalks on the elevator 59 and when they reach substati-y The frame I8 and having on its outerV end a-hand c be reached by au` operator of the shaft 83. Said arms 98, at their outer orA f tionby-afixed arm |22 on the shaft that may be tially the longitudinal center jof the elevator frame I8 they are cut into lshort pieces by a rotary ensilage cutter 95 having a plurality of spiral knife bladesand a cooperating fixed cutter blade 96. The shaft 91 for the cutter 95 is Journaledin bearings on a pair of swingable arms 98 at the intermediate portions thereof.- The arms 98, at their inner or lower ends, are pivoted on the same bearing hubs for the arms 82, see Fig. 8, for swinging movement about the axis upper ends, loosely rest'in pockets 99 on the side members of the elevator frame I8. By reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the intermediate portions of the arms 98 are upwardly off-set and support the cutting the deck `51.v Mounted on the shaft 91 is a clutch that is mounted on the right hand end portion of the shaft 91 `and includes a loose member |00 and a cooperating fixed member IOI having a' shipper collar |02. A shipper` lever |03 is intermediately pivoted to the right hand arm 98 and one of its arms extends into the shipper collar |02. When the clutch member IOI is released, the outer arm of the shipper lever |03 is secured to the respective arm 98l by a pin, not shown, that is insertable through aligned holes in said' outer shipper lever arm and the arm 98, see Fig. 2. The loose clutch member is driven from the shaft 88 by a sprocket chainO |04 which runs over a large sprocket wheel on the right hand end of the. shaft 86 and over a small sprocket wheel |09 on said clutch member. I

Cut corn stalks on the elevator 59 are fed to the ensilage cutter 95 by upper'and lower feed rolls |01 and |08 respectively. The shaft ofthe lower feed roll |08 is journaled inbearings on the arms 98 and the shaft of the upper feed roll |01 is journaled in floating bearings |09 that are yieldingly pressed toward the shaft of the lower feed roll .|08 byoiled springs I I0.l The upper feed roll |01 is driven from the shaft of the ensilage cutter 95 by a sprocket chain III which runs over a small sprocket H2 on the left hand end portion of the shaft of said cutter and a large sprocket wheel II3 on the shaft of saidl -A ,pair of interme'shing spurupper feed roll. gears IIl drive the upper feed roll |01.

'I'he elevator 59 runs overan idle roll II5 journaled on the free ends of aj pair of bearing arms I I5 fixed to a shaft II1 journaled in bearings on the side members of the elevator frame I8. This idle'roll I I5 is positioned just below the lower feed roll |08 and holds the respective position of the elevator 59 passing thereover raised and directs the corn stalks on said elevator between the feed rolls |08 and |09. From the idle roll II5 the lower feed roll |08 from the .elevator 59I is passed under the lower feed roll |08 and is held depressed thereby and spaced below the ensilage cutter 95 so that the corn stalks, after being cut, by said cutter, drop onto said elevator and freely pa'ss under said cutter.

A housing I|8 forthe ensilage cutter 9 5 and feed rolls |01 and |08 is mounted on the arms 98. When the elevator 59 is to be used without the ensilage cutter 95, the arms '98 are raised with all parts carried thereby intoa position as shown by broken lines in Fig. 1. In this position ofthe arms 98 the same are supported by a leg II9 pivoted at one end to the left hand side member of the elevator frame I8, and formed in the free or other end of said leg is a notch I'arranged Ito receive a pin |2| on the overlying arm 98.

device 95 considerably above` releasably secured to the respective side member of the elevator frame I8 by a pin |23. When the ensilage cutter 95 is in aninoperative `pos'ition as shown by broken lines in Fig. l, the pin |23 will be withdrawn to release-the arm |22 and allow the idle roll II5 to rest on the deck 59 permitting straight line travel of the elevatorv 59 from one end of the elevator frame I8 to thev other.

,'A lever actuated latch is provided for holding the body I3 against dumping movement and indicated by the numeral |24 and the radiator of said truck is indicated by the numeral |25.

Obviously, the reel 8| tips the standing 4corn stalks toward the machine during the forward travel of the machine and as the `same is cut, drops longitudinally onto the elevator 59 in' overlapping rows that extend transversely of said elevator. It will be seen that an even layer of corn stalks is constantly passing between the feed rolls |01 and |08, from one end thereof to the other and is fed thereby in the same manner to the ensilage cutter 95 so that there is a `continuous cutting action by the knives on substantially a constant thickness of corn'stalks without undue strain on the ensilage cutter 95. From the ensilage cutter 95 the cut pieces of corn stalks drop onto the .elevator 59, are elevated thereby to the top of the elevator frame I8, where they drop into the truck body I3.

When the truck body I3 is full vof cut corn stalks, the lever 5I is operated to move the clutch member 40 into an inoperative position and thereby stop operation of the moving parts carried by the elevator frame I8. Said Itruck is then driven to the silo and its load dumped thereposes only, the varms 82 and 98 are raised andl thereby position the reel 8|, ensilage cutter 95 andall other parts carried by said arms into an inoperative position,

To detach the combined harvester and loader from the truck it is only necessary to lower the legs 58, operate the hand lever 21, to release the coupling hook 25,.then to back the truck away from said combined harvester and loader. Ob-

viously a larger amount of labor is saved by the use of my combined harvester and loader over` the present method of harvesting corn, cutting the samefor ensilage and storing the out corn in a silo. Furthermore, the use of expensive bindery twine iseliminated. A

By feeding corn stalks to an ensilage cutter in a thin layer, as is done in my combined harvester and loaderdn place of feeding bundles of corn stalks held together by binding twine, as is now the general practice, less power is required to drive the ensilage vcutter and less strain is placed on the cutting mechanism.

The velevator 5s is 1atera11y onset on the e1e'- vator frame I8 to the right so as not to obstruct the view of an operator of the machine when sitting in the cab I2. Y

It will be understood that the invention is capable of `various modications, all within the scope of the invention disclosed, and broadly claimed.

What I claim is:

1v. In a machine of the kind described, a horizontally disposed U shaped main frame having caster wheels on the free end portions of its arms, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined elevator frame mounted'on the front end of the main frame, an endless belt-like elevator mounted on the elevator frame, means for mounting the transverse portion of the mainframe on the front end of an automotive truck with the arms of said main frame extending rearwardly, one on each side of the truck, driven connections on the frames for operating the elevator including one mem- U shaped main frame, caster wheels on the free A end portions of its arms, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined elevator frame mounted on the front end of the main frame, an endless beltlike elevator mounted on the elevator frame, means on the bumper for releasably supporting the transverse portion of the main frame thereon, with the arms of the main frame extending rearwardly one on each side of the truck, a separable coupling connecting the main frame to the truck, driving connections on the main and elevator frames'for operating the elevator, and a separable coupling for connecting the driving connections on said two frames'to the driven connections on the, truck.

3. The structure dened in claim 2 which further includes a pair of displaceable legs on the front end portion of the main frame for supporting the same when it is removed from the truck.

4. In a device of the kind described, a horizontaily disposed U-shaped main frame, caster wheels on the arms of the main frame. an up wardly and rearwardly inclined elevator frame on the main frame, an endless belt-like elevator mounted on the elevator frame, the arms'offthe main frame Abeing substantially parallel and laterally spaced to receive the froift end portion of a truck therebetween and under the elevator frame and with its front end closely positioned to the transverse member of the main frame, a separable coupling for connecting the main frame to the truck, driving connections on the main frame and the elevator frame for operating the elevator, and a separable coupling for connecting the driving connections on said two frames to the driving connections of the truck. y

5. The structure defined in claim 4 in which the elevator frame is laterally oiset to one side of the main frame and thereby leaves an unobstructed view over the transverse member of the main frame at the other side of said main frame.

u 6. The structure defined in claim 4 which further includes means on the main frame for cen- 

